Check out the local celebrations in coastal NC. These are in order by date of occurrence.
NC 4th of July Festival | Southport & Oak Island
Friday, June 30 – Saturday, July 1, 2023 See detailed scheduled for locations
The N.C. 4th of July Festival is held annually in the City of Southport with many events also held in Oak Island. The festivities kick off with a Welcoming Ceremony on June 30 at 6:30 pm on the Fort Johnston lawn in Southport. Oak Island will hold its Welcoming Ceremony at 5:45 pm on July 1 at Middleton Park Extension followed by a free concert. July 1 also includes traditional Oak Island Beach Day activities such as games, music, food and fireworks. Other festival events in Southport include: Reading of the Declaration of Independence, Flag Raising Ceremony, Naturalization Ceremony, Parade, Arts and Crafts Market, Music and Entertainment, Freedom Flotilla and more fireworks.
Monday, July 3, 2023 | 6:00 PM – 9:25 PM Soundside Park – 517 Roland Ave., Surf City, NC Free Band – Jim Quick and the Coastline Band + Food Trucks + Fireworks at 9PM Parking details here
Tuesday, July 4, 2023 | 5:00 PM – 9:25 PM Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park, 10 Cowan St., Wilmington, NC Free | Food & Drinks available for purchase (no cash) This City of Wilmington’s family friendly event will include music featuring the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, other entertainment, kids activities, food, fireworks & more!
Stage Schedule: 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm – Cumulus Media (entertainment) 6:30 pm – Rukus (musical entertainment) 7:30 pm – Wilmington Symphony Orchestra 9:05 pm – Fireworks will take place at 9:05 pm (best viewed along riverfront)
Food Food and beverages (soft drinks, beer & wine) will be sold at the park. No outside food or drink can be brought inside the park with the exception of water up to 1 gallon in a factory sealed or empty bottle.
Parking Parking is available on the street and in downtown parking lots. Street parking on July 4 is FREE. Parking Information
Cashless Payments This is a cashless event – no cash accepted. All food and beverage sales will ONLY accept debit, credit, or mobile pay (Apple Pay or Google Pay).
Seating for Lawn Area Beach Chairs (with legs no longer than 9 inches) and blankets will be allowed on the lawns.
Animals No animals allowed inside the venue with the exception of registered, working service animals.
Here is a complete guide to family-friendly summer concert series in and around Wilmington, NC. Be sure to double check on the linked websites below for up-to-date details!
Tuesday’s
Topsail
FREE
2023 Topsail Sounds Summer Concert Series will occur every Tuesday from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM at Topsail Beach Town Center. Bring your lawn chairs and join for live music and fun!
2023 Mayfaire’s Sunset Music Series is every Wednesday night from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM in the plaza in front of Regal Cinema. You can purchase wine for half price on Wednesday at Coquina Fishbar. Brixx Wood Fired Pizza has a special $8 mix drink cocktail every Wednesday night and Fox and Hound offers $1 off bourbon & whiskey and $4 dark horse wine glasses. Alcohol is not allowed in the Plaza. We love pets, but please leave them at home.
2023 Sounds of Summer Concert Series occur Thursdays from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM at Wrightsville Beach Park.
Bring your picnic, lawn chairs, and blankets for an evening of music and fun! Coolers are welcome, but no alcohol is allowed in Wrightsville Beach Park. Bring extra money to enjoy Cool Beans Wilmington and Sabino’s Italian ice, plus food trucks!
Date
Band
Thursday, June 15
Overtyme Band Good time rock & roll!
Thursday, June 22
ReSoul Band Wilmington’s hottest new dance / party band
Thursday, June 29
Southern Trouble Contemporary country/country rock, southern rock, with a few rock tunes and blues thrown in.
Thursday, July 6
Jack Jack 180 A blend of high-energy party, pop, and rock covers.
Thursday, July 13
Loud Music Company A heavy mix of seamlessly blended pop, rock, country, soul, and funk.
Thursday, July 20
Brown Dirt Cowboys Original music from Wilmington. We also cover everything from Elton to Avett Brothers.
Thursday, July 27
The Cruise Brothers Performs #1 hits from Motown to Nashville
All concerts are from 6 – 8 PM on the following Friday evenings by the Airlie Oak tree
Date
Band
Friday, June 2
TripleWide featuring Brett Johnson TripleWide from Wilson, NC plays funky, bluesy, rockin’, soulful tunes along with local artist Brett Johnson!
Friday, June 16
ReSoul ReSoul is a hot new R&B band based inWilmington, NC covering the best danceable soul tunes from the 70s through today! Chaka Khan, Gloria Gaynor, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys, Sade, Liz Wright, and many others.
Friday, July 7
Motel Soap Motel Soap performs primarily 70s & 80s pop & rock from bands such as Chicago, Toto, Journey, Steely Dan U2, The Beatles and more!
Friday, July 21
Jim Quick & Coastline Pulling from the threads of Soul, Blues, R&B, and Americana, Jim Quick and Coastline weave together their own genre of music known as Swamp Soul!
Friday, August 11
Bibis Ellison One of Airlie’s favorites, we are thrilled to welcome back Bibis Ellison! Her high-energy, power-packed vocals get the whole crowd dancing to the latest pop and covers!
Friday, August 18
Brown Dirt Cowboys The Brown Dirt Cowboys from Wilmington, NC play original music as well as covers of everything from Elton to Avett Brothers!
Friday, September 1
Signal Fire Signal Fire is a group of diverse musicians with a common goal, to spread unity through music. Hailing from the coastal town of Wilmington, North Carolina Signal Fire brings a unique blend of reggae/rock music to the masses.
*Check the website to verify
Costs: General Admission | $10* Children age 4-12 | $3* Children 3 and under | FREE Airlie Members | Admission Based on Membership Level
To purchase tickets, check out their website below. Members get priority booking.
Friday Night Live! on the Pier Summer Concert Series will be from 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM Food, beer and wine will be available for purchase during the show. Wristbands to drink are $1, which will be donated to charities in our community.
Date
Band
Friday, June 2
Satisfaction (Rolling Stones)
Friday, June 9
Slippery When Wet (Bon Jovi)
Friday, June 23
20 Ride (Zac Brown)
Friday, July 7
Breakfast Club (Classic 80′s)
Friday, August 4
Tuesday’s Gone (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Friday, August 11
Troubadour (70′s)
Friday, August 25
Guardians of the Jukebox (MTV Hits)
Friday, September 1
Departure (Journey)
*Check the website to verify
To keep up with all the details, check out the Facebook page for these events linked below!
2023 Hampstead Alive After Five Summer Concert series will occur every Friday at 6:30 PM at Kiwanis Park in Hampstead. Bring your lawn chairs and join us for live music, food trucks and fun!
Bands By the Beach Town of Oak Island’s Summer Concert Series will be hosted every Friday (two Saturdays) from 6:30 – 8:30 PMat Middleton Park. Parking is not charged during special events like these concerts!
Looking for a unique Christmas or birthday gift for a child in the Wilmington area? I have you covered! Feel free to send Santa or Grandma this list. These experiences are truly the gifts that keep on giving all year around.
Check out the top suggestions below along with all the details:
# 1 – NC Aquariums Annual Membership
Members receive unlimited free admission for one or two years at all three North Carolina Aquariums (Fort Fisher, Roanoke Island and Pine Knoll Shores), plus discounts or free admissions to reciprocal zoos and aquariums nationwide!
Family memberships receive free admission for two adults named on the card and their children or grandchildren under the age of 18.
Curator members receive the same Family benefits, plus free admission for one guest per visit (perfect for babysitter or grandparents).
Members also receive free walk-on admission at Jennette’s Pier, gift shop and program discounts AND reciprocity with 150+ Other Zoos & Aquariums, which means FREE admission into the NC Zoo in Asheboro, NC (worlds largest natural habitat zoo). This is the one reason why we get this pass every year. It pays for itself!
Annual Pass Cost: $89 Basic family, but check out the website for other options.
Insider Tip*We ask for this membership each year from our family for Christmas because it’s the perfect indoor activity and we visit the NC Zoo at least once a year. It pays for its self!
# 2 – AirleGardens
Your membership to Airlie Gardens brings insider perks and rewards; including, advanced member-only ticket offers and year-round fun. Your support as a member helps the Garden continue to be a valued local attraction and allows Airlie to provide public programs, education and special events to our community.
Current Members: Please DO NOT renew your membership more than 60 days prior to your current expiration date. You will receive an emailed and mailed renewal notice as a reminder starting 60 and 30-days prior to your expiration.Your Membership Card will be mailed to you, please allow 7-14 business days for processing. Use your E-receipt to redeem membership benefits immediately.
Annual Pass Cost: $75 – family See website for other options
Insider Tip* Enchanted Airlie tickets are offered to members first in October. This allows you to get the time and date you wish to attend without the hassle of logging in early in hopes of securing a ticket. Also, depending on which membership level you get, your tickets will be free or discounted.
# 3 – Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park
Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park really is the only place in town that offers so many activities for kids in one place. Dry activities include Jungle Golf (outdoor putt-putt), mini bowling, spin zone, laser tag, arcade, rock climbing wall, outdoor go karts, Kid Jungle Gym (for kids 8 years and under). The waterpark has 2 body water slides, a large wave pool and lazy river, The Super Bowl slide, The Sidewinder, The Rapid Racer and Volcano (check out my Jungle Rapids post) and also a large Kids Splash zone with several slides.
The season pass includes access to the waterpark, which is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Once the water park closes, your pass will allow you ONE free dry activity every Sunday between 4PM – 9PM from October – March (excludes laser tag). Children 2 and under are free and do not need an annual pass.
Insider Tip* Jungle Rapids offers a discounted ticket for $160 if purchased before December 31, 2022. After that date, season passes increase to $180+. Keep in mind children 2 and under are free and do not need passes to the waterpark.
#4 – DefyWilmington
Defy is a indoor trampoline park that has basketball
Let them get in on the crazy fun happening at DEFY all year long with our Black Friday Annual Pass. Get 90 minutes of Flight Time every day — all for way less than $1 a day! Don’t miss out on our biggest deal of the year!
An Annual Family Membership at The Little Gym of Wilmington, NC enables your child to participate in weekly classes. Each time they attend, they’re presented with opportunities to master new skills and accomplishments. As a parent, you benefit as well! Membership allows you to take advantage of several special privileges, including:
Participation in Priority Enrollment
Member Discounts:
Awesome Birthday Bash parties
Camps
Events & More Fun
Annual Membership Cost: $50 *Note that the $50 grants you access to membership perks – classes are typically $85 per month
If you have a train lover on your hands, this may be the best place in town for you! The Wilmington Railroad Museum is a fun interactive museum located in downtown Wilmington along the riverfront. Watch and learn about trains and how important they were to the Port City long ago.
Coach/ Individual| $50: Free admission for 1 person for a year + 10 % Gift Shop discount + Annual Membership Reception
Club Car/ Family | $80: (Best Value) Free admission for 4 persons for a year + 10 % Gift Shop discount + Annual Membership Reception
Pullman Pass | $150 : Free admission for 4 persons for a year + 10 % Gift Shop discount + Annual Membership Reception + 10 free passes for friends/relatives
Private Car | $250: Free admission for 4 persons for a year + 10 % Gift Shop discount + Annual Membership Reception + 20 free passes for friends/relatives
Railroad Baron | $500: Free admission for 4 persons for a year + 10 % Gift Shop discount + Annual Membership Reception + 20 free passes for friends/relatives + Limited Edition ACL History Book
Champion | $1,000: Free admission for 4 persons for a year + 10 % Gift Shop discount + Annual Membership Reception + 10 free passes for friends/relatives + Limited Edition ACL History Book + Sponsorship for you or your company
A very inexpensive and worthwhile annual membership. If you have a child 5 and under, this is a must. Stop by the Resource Room, which is free to use any time (to non-members as well). If you are a member, enjoy
Insider Tip* Just buy this one. It’s worth every bit of $5.
# 9 – Fit For Fun
Do you ever dream of taking your kid to a indoor facility full of toys that they can play with for hours and that you don’t have to clean up or put away afterward? If so, Fit For Fun is the place for you. Open for kids 5 and under, this large building has ever Fisher Price toy you can dream of, rooms filled with toys and even a fenced in playground perfect for the little tots to explore.
If you’ve never been before, go check it out! For just $5, you can explore the center and see if an annual membership would be something you’d enjoy! They also have special events and activities – check out the calendar on the website.
Wait! Before you decide you have been to the museum a few times and scroll on, did you know this membership actually gives you access to A LOT more cool museums other than the Cape Fear Museum?
Nationwide reciprocal admission to more than over 750 participating arts, cultural, historical and children’s museums along with botanical gardens and science and technology centers through North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM).
Insider Tip* Check out all of the other museums you gain access to with this pass including Discovery Place in Charlotte, Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh, North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, and so many other throughout the nation!
Other memberships to look into:
Carowinds – Located about 3.5 hours from Wilmington – Carowinds has a fantastic annual pass with water park, rollar coasters and a kids section all included. If you have family near Charlotte or visit that area often – I highly recommend checking it out.
NSEA Swim@ Earl Jackson Pool – A local year-around pool located downtown offers an annual membership for $40 for the whole family!
YMCA Membership at the Y gives you access to all YMCA facilities Nationwide. You also get member pricing for all of our programs including afterschool, preschool, soccer, basketball, eSports and more. Each branch of the YMCA has different features but at our Nir Family YMCA offers a basketball gym, racquetball courts, indoor pool. They also have cardio equipment, weights, and lots of fitness classes. In addition, they offer child watch during select hours so your children can be cared for while you have time to use the facility.
Hey soon-to-be momma! You are getting ready to have a baby (yay!) and you have probably thought more about what that baby is going to wear home from the hospital than about feeding her/him, but like a true friend, I think you should start thinking about those boobs of yours and how your baby will have a closer relationship with them than with you. Haha! Seriously, sometimes I think, does she realized I’m attached to these things? So, I thought it would be helpful to just review some things I’ve learned about breastfeeding. I truly hope this helps and gives you a snapshot into your future. I’ve also included some “pro tips” I’ve learned from other moms. Don’t worry, you will do great!
1. It is hard work!
When I was pregnant, I’d heard about books I should read, pillows I should buy, how it’s “all about the latch” and I’d studied all the positions of how I needed to hold my baby in order for her to eat. Football (that sounded fun), cross cradle (sounded like a game) and so on. Man, I was a bit overwhelmed, but I thought “Amanda, women have been breastfeeding for hundreds of years, how hard could it be?”
Well, girl, the first few days sucked (for me at least). I remember I wasn’t exactly sure if my baby was latching correctly (she was a late pre-term baby), she was losing weight so I questioned if she was even getting anything at all and to top it off my husband questioned me constantly about if she was eating anything. He didn’t mean to and honestly was just as concerned as I was. It’s tough because you can’t physically see the milk go down their little tiny throat and when they swallow, they don’t gulp loudly. She was so sleepy that I had to wake her up every 2-3 hours and “try” to feed her. Welcome to motherhood, right? To top it off my nipples hurt.so. dang. bad.
The lovely lactation consultant had made her round at the hospital, reassured me that I was doing good and gave me a sheet of paper to track feedings, the latch quality, and to record if pain was present. On about every line, I wrote it was painful (because it was). Imagine with me your nipple getting sucked in a high-suction vacuum over and over again every 2 hours. Ouch!
On my 2nd day at the hospital, I started to pump, which was reassuring that my body was producing something. My husband and I could now breath a little easier.
Once we got home, my babe started to gain weight (that was reassuring too) and either my nips got used to the constant suction or she got better at it. Either way, it gets better. If you are serious about it, just stick it out and seek help.
Pro Tip: Instead of applying nipple cream to your sore or cracked nipples, put breastmilk on them, let it dry and it will help them out.
2. Trust your Body and your Baby.
As mentioned above, it’s easy to question your body. A good way to measure is the number of dirty and wet diapers your little one is going through daily and weight gain. For diapers, they say…
Day one: 1 wet, 1 stool (or more!)
Day two: 2 wet, 2 stools (or more!)
Day three: 3 wet, 3 stools (or more!)
Day four, when a copious milk supply begins: 6+ wet and 4+ more stools.
Day five +, 6+ wet and stools usually at least 1x
For measuring weight, I recommend either getting a home scale (like the Hatch Baby Grow) or attend a weekly meet-up group where they weigh your baby. It helps your uncertainty.
I learned that your body makes what is used. So, when you nurse, it’s saying “hey body, keep making that milk”! Your baby’s belly grows quickly the first few days, so if she/he is crying to be fed a lot, that is normal. Babe is just reminding your body to keep it coming!
3. When it doubt, whip it out.
Those first few weeks, your milk supply is coming in and trying to figure out how much milk it needs to make. Think of your boobs as a factory keeping up with supply and demand. Our lactation consultant always says “remember, it’s your baby telling your body to make more milk”.
I remember Brooke eating, I’d pass her off to her dad and then she’d start crying within 15 minutes. I would say “there is no way she is hungry, she just ate!” In those early weeks/months, if your baby is crying, he/she is more than likely hungry. So, “when in doubt, whip it out”. Babies are little humans, so like us, they may eat when they are happy, sad, bored, scared, tired or they want to be close to you!
4. Terms used in the Breastfeeding world. Note these are not actual definitions. 🙂
Colostrum – The first “milk”your body makes. Usually more yellow, which is why they call it “liquid gold”.
Cluster Feeding – Very frequent to constant feeding. Basically it means just sit on the couch and binge TV Shows and let that baby eat.
EBF – (Exclusively Breast Fed) – I was in a FB group and I was like “what in the heavens is “EBF”? Haha..You are welcome.
Mastitis – Personally never experienced, but it sounds just awful. Basically if your milk gets clogged in the ducts, it can cause an infection. If your boobs are in pain, look red and swollen and you have a fever and/or chills. You may have mastitis. Docs can prescribe antibiotics, but I’ve heard get that baby to nurse a lot, take a hot shower and massage the ducts towards your nipple.
Pro Tip: A lactation consultant did tell me early on to ensure I massaged my breasts regularly to prevent mastitis. You can do this in the shower and make sure you massage all the way under your armpit.
5. Random things I’ve learned:
Resource: One of the best resources that I was directed to is a website called “Kelly Mom”. Click here to check out Breastfeeding your Newborn. This website has answers to every question. So at 3 AM if you are searching Google for peace of mind, check Kelly Mom out first.
Introduce a bottle: Around 4 – 6 weeks, if you are exclusively breastfeeding, have your partner or someone introduce a bottle at least once per day while you go in the other room and pump. If you want to be able to leave your baby longer than 3 hours in the first 8 months of you their life, I recommend you keep this tradition up.
Buy nursing bras: You can drop a lot of money, but honestly, these sports bra type nursing bras are my favorite. They are comfortable and not expensive. The only con is the padding inside folds in the washing machine. I ended up removing the pads altogether. Amazon ~$20
Get a Haaka: No I didn’t say hooka. Haha…This is a silicone contraption that you suction to your boob that catches milk from the opposite boob you are feeding from. So if baby is eating on your right, you put it on the left. It is AMAZING and you will be very surprised at the amount of milk that will leak out. I collected from each feeding and froze milk in 4oz increments. Woohoo! Amazon ~$20
Side position: This is my favorite and I wish instead of hunching over in the beginning, I would have tried this out. Lay on your side, relax your neck and back and feed your little one. If you are worried you will go to sleep while feeding, take your shirt off and take off covers. If you are chilly you won’t be likely to fall asleep.
Breastfeeding is a tough full-time job. As a new mom, I recommend seeking professional help if you need it and get a group of mom friends on the same journey. It is tough in the beginning, but you will get the hang of it and it will be rewarding to know your body provided the milk for that chubby little tummy, those chunky legs and rolls. Also know that if breastfeeding doesn’t work, you are not a failure. Breastfed or formula fed, at the end of the day you are feeding your baby and that is all that matters. Good luck mama! You got this!
Address: 2601 River Road (NC 133), Winnabow, NC 28479
On HWY 133 just outside of Leland, NC is Brunswick Nature Park, which was created in 2004 by the Coastal Land Trust and Brunswick County. The park is located on 912 acres of undeveloped land and has several trails for the family and possibly your family pet to enjoy. While there aren’t playgrounds and more than one picnic shelter, there are several trails along wetlands and in the woods, so mama – BRING THAT BUG SPRAY.
As stated above, there are several trails; however, since the park is ran by volunteers, the signage isn’t the best. No trails are marked with mile markers, but benches are provided along the way and the trails are clearly established. We took the “Dogwood” trail and it was about a 2 mile hike into easy terrain – up and down small hills. This particular trail began at the “overlook” area and ended on the main road into the park.
Parking: Yes, 2 gravel parking lots
Restrooms: Yes, available near the main parking lot
Stroller friendly: No
The large picnic shelter offers a grilling station and is fairly large with 5 picnic tables. Overall, this is a great nature park! You can launch canoes and kayaks, hike, mountain bike or simply go to the overlook and then walk back to your car, which is around .5 mile there and back.
A nature park fit for the adventurous family or open space for your kids to play outside. I hope you enjoy this nature park and be sure to tag @wilmingtonmom when you check it out.
Located off of US-17 between Hampstead and Porter’s Neck area of Wilmington is Poplar Grove Plantation, known for it’s weekly Farmer’s Market and history which is open to the public for tours. Beside the plantation sits a gravel parking lot that welcomes guest visiting the Abbey Foy-Moore Nature Preserve, which was property donated back in 2008, 62-acres in fact, to the North Carolina Land Trust.
There are several trails that lead to a large pond and dam. This is a great place to take your dog for a run (I know people do that. Not me.) or take your kids on a walk. We typically walk about 2 miles and I carry our little one in a baby carrier. Some trails are stroller-friendly, but it’s much easier to navigate without as the trails are not paved.
Parking: Yes, a large gravel parking lot
Restrooms: Not Available
Stroller Friendly: Not really
Don’t forget the bug spray and watch out for wildlife!
On the weekends this nature preserve gets pretty busy. I recommend to plan your first trip here during the weekday during work hours or after work one afternoon.
If you like being in nature and looking for a nice walk, I highly recommend this nature preserve! Enjoy the trails and if you snap a photo of the pond, tag @wilmingtonmom on instagram.
